I used to imagine I could pull it off. Then I knew I couldn't. The gales of merriment ringing out from family and friends... I've reached the conclusion, in fact, sadly, that hats don't suit me at all and moved on Pendleton, Kangol, that nice JS seersucker, the 'Popeye Doyle'. The Breton beret I bought in order to provide moral support to Gibson during the late summer/early autumn of 2012 shrank on its first washing. Just keep the Stetson now, fitted by JS at Russell Street (his very own sweet hands), to be worn on rainy days only.
A definite no for me to wear.
They work for me. More for practical than aesthetic purposes - protection from the sun (not the 'newspaper') - nonetheless I quite the look. Those I have found suit me best don't have the classic contrasting band and I imagine only work with very casual kit, whereas the more typical examples work dressed up too. Doesn't Lemmon briefly sport one in the pouring rain in Glengarry Glenn Ross, paired with a suit and trench?
Yes Yuca, that look does work. I'm soured by the 90s rave, Stone Roses associations I think.
I ought to go back and watch GGR again.
Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2021-10-03 10:09:55)
I was unaware of those associations but now they do ring a vague bell. If the rest of your outfit is completely unrelated to 90s rave/Stone Roses attire I think you can get away with it. Ultimately if you're under the tropical sun (or a European imitation) then anything that protects your head is worth having. A linen cap is a bit smarter and can look superb. I need to dig mine out, clean it and start using it again.
Enjoyed GGR myself. Lemmon was terrific. Saw Mamet's 'Edmond' at the Royal Court in 1984-ish.
Oh, of course Woody Allen was a wearer of the bucket hat. Bit of a contentious figure these days.
True but I believe the allegations against him are without any credible evidence.
Lemmon and Pacino are 2 of my favourite actors and GGR is an acting masterclass. And not just from those 2. One of my favourite films.
But I'm not sure if the bucket hat is in GGR or the Odd Couple. Or even both.
I've worked as a salesman which makes GGR all the more relatable. I think Kevin Spacey wears a flap pocket BD at one point. Presumably Press. It's from 1992, when BDs still had beautiful soft collars. A year or 2 later and years of BD tradition had been unceremoniously discarded with the introduction of the fused collar at the likes of Brooks and Press.
A brief nod to Woody's olive green number currently on view at CN2P. He's been wearing them, on and off, for years: sometimes as part of his 'disguise' whilst walking the streets of Manhattan. I almost regret that, like anything with a crew neck, I can't even think about wearing them.
Or think Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond.
This is on my head from mid-May to mid-September, mostly for fishing purposes.
The more crumpled and dirty it gets, the better I like it.
https://www.villagehatshop.com/product/bucket-hats/451139-839004/dorfman-pacific-company-poplin-cotton-blend-rain-bucket-hat.html
Better than my father's baseball cap: also for fishing.
I’ll leave it, the bucket hat that is, fine for gardening or fishing but no good if the slightest degree of smartness is desired.
For a dash of style, but still practical and casual I’ll take the poplin rain hat. It used to be a Brooks Brothers staple but they stopped stocking them some years ago. So my researches led me to John Helmer, haberdasher of Portland, Oregon, a long established business that I will be sure to visit should I ever blow into that burgh. The said headgear can be located here:
https://www.johnhelmer.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6&products_id=451
I got myself one in navy blue for $45 and having mentioned that customs charges start to apply at the $30 mark they completed the paperwork with that in mind. While they have a website they also enclosed a fold out leaflet of line drawings of the various hats they stock with a paper order form should the customer not be inclined to recourse to digital commerce … nice and a thoroughly satisfactory transaction.
Nice find, Woofboxer. USA made and supplies the additional thrill of shipping from the battle front of downtown Portland.
I love the 'Very Rare', Chinese-made bucket hat currently on sale at £125 on Ebay.
Lord, though, anything must be better than what we see of modern Brooks offerings (not to mention, say, Kangol).
Woofboxer, how was the sizing on the Helmer hat? I recently ordered one of the Dorfman Pacific hats, good for the price, reminiscent of what one might have found in the all American variety stores here in the 70's, runs nearly a full size larger than tag.
I take it this does not include the Harris tweed bucket hat, as offered by places such as Edinburgh Woolen Mills. They are very handy. They keep rain off spectacles better than a cap too.
Better value than one of these cotton jobs - but probably the wrong image for many on here.
Slimm67 - I bought a Capas rain hat from Helmers. It was Medium and I’m a 57/58 (7 1/8) - it required a bit of steaming and stretching but fits perfectly. I bought it because of its resemblance to the old Brooks rain hats.
https://www.johnhelmer.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6&products_id=451
I can’t comment on the Dorfman hat, sizes seem to vary a lot between manufacturers and buying hats online is always a gamble for me, I hope it works out for you.
I like that Helmer hat.
I've tried on a few similar over the years, hoping they'll make a change from the ball cap (am I verging on too old?) or the newsboy (''OI OI! PEAKY BLINDEEEERRRRS'')
As AUS says above, soon as one goes on my head I start walking around bandy legged and talking like Liam Gallagher.
Conceptually I'm all over the bucket hat - Odd Couple, Woody, 60s NYC at all that - but practically I think it renders the wearer, well me certainly, insanely gormless upon the act of donning. Perhaps as part of a costumey, rather self-conscious all-beige reconstruction of that very old school American look, say with a G9 and chinos, as sometimes worn by The Weejun on IG, well maybe that's do-able, but no-one really looks attractive with one of these plonked on their bonce.
Hats in general don't suit me and the bucket hat makes me look like a mong. I now feel too old for baseball caps but flat caps, newsboy, cheese cutters (Oi We're the Peaky Fucking Blinders') are my go to headwear.